Skip to content
Independent and accessible public media is needed more than ever.
Help us continue keeping communities informed and inspired.
Keep public media independent and accessible
Donate Now

View thank you gift options

CapRadio

CapRadio

signal status listen live donate
listen live donate signal status
listen live donate signal status
  • News
    • topics
    • State Government
    • Environment
    • Health Care
    • Race and Equity
    • Business
    • Arts and Lifestyle
    • Food and Sustainability
    • PolitiFact California
  • Music
    • genres
    • Classical
    • Jazz
    • Eclectic
    • Daily Playlist
  • Programs + Podcasts
    • news
    • Morning Edition
    • All Things Considered
    • Marketplace
    • Insight With Vicki Gonzalez
    • music
    • Acid Jazz
    • At the Opera
    • Classical Music
    • Connections
    • Excellence in Jazz
    • Hey, Listen!
    • K-ZAP on CapRadio
    • Mick Martin's Blues Party
    • Programs A-Z
    • Podcast Directory
  • Schedules
    • News
    • Music
    • ClassicalStream
    • JazzStream
    • Weekly Schedule
    • Daily Playlist
  • Community
    • Events Calendar
    • CapRadio Garden
    • CapRadio Reads
    • Ticket Giveaways
  • Support
    • Evergreen Gift
    • One-Time Gift
    • Corporate Support
    • Vehicle Donation
    • Stock Gift
    • Legacy Gift
    • Endowment Gift
    • Benefits
    • Member FAQ
    • e‑Newsletter
    • Drawing Winners
    • Thank You Gifts
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Close Menu
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 
 We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter 

Rim Fire- Tuesday Update: Mariposa County Evacuation Advisory Lifted as Progress Continues

Tuesday, September 3, 2013 | Sacramento, CA
Al Gibes / Capital Public Radio
 

Al Gibes / Capital Public Radio

Latest U.S. Forest Service Incident Report

Update: 12:18 a.m. - Mariposa County Evacuation Advisory Lifted as Progress Continues

The evacuation advisory for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest has been lifted, and there are currently no mandatory evacuations or evacuation advisories for Mariposa County.

Highway 120 at the Yosemite National Park boundary west to Buck Meadows is still evacuated.

The Stanislaus National Forest Closure Order for the Rim Fire area has been expanded along the northern end of the fire's edge. Please see the closure announcement and closure area map for more details. Note that the Dodge Ridge Ski Area is still open.

Smoke from the Rim Fire has settled into Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta and other areas, causing air quality impacts. This will persist for the next few days, particularly in the morning hours.

Active fire behavior continued into the late evening and moderated overnight as humidity recovered. Moderate rates of spread were observed both in advancing ground fire and burnout operations.

Weather conditions will be similar to yesterday although slightly drier. Light showers possible with little to no rainfall and a 10 percent chance of thunderstorms. Smoke exposure and air quality will continue to be a concern to the public and fire crews.

Spotting is possible on burnout operations and resulting in slow and cautions progression. The Incident Management Team 1 will transfer from Wilkins to McGowan tomorrow.

0903 Rim Fire Morning Smoke
Smoke from the Rim Fire settles into canyons and low-lying areas in the early morning hours. This photo is from 19,000 feet at 8:30 a.m. today, looking southwest between Lake Tahoe and Yosemite. (Al Gibes / Capital Public Radio)
 


6 a.m.: Humidity and Lower Temps Help Increase Containment


The evacuation advisory for Ponderosa Hills and areas east, along the south side of Highway 108 up to Pinecrest has been lifted, and there are currently no mandatory evacuations or evacuation advisories for Mariposa County.

Highway 120 at the Yosemite National Park boundary west to Buck Meadows is still evacuated.

The Stanislaus National Forest Closure Order for the Rim Fire area has been expanded along the northern end of the fire's edge. Please see the closure announcement and closure area map for more details. Note that the Dodge Ridge Ski Area is still open.

Smoke from the Rim Fire has settled into Yosemite Valley, Wawona, Foresta and other areas, causing air quality impacts. This will persist for the next few days, particularly in the morning hours.

Active fire behavior continued into the late evening and moderated overnight as humidity recovered. Moderate rates of spread were observed both in advancing ground fire and burnout operations.

Weather conditions will be similar to yesterday although slightly drier. Light showers possible with little to no rainfall and a 10 percent chance of thunderstorms. Smoke exposure and air quality will continue to be a concern to the public and fire crews.

Spotting is possible on burnout operations and resulting in slow and cautions progression. The Incident Management Team 1 will transfer from Wilkins to McGowan tomorrow.

0903 Rim Fire Crews Staging
Holding crews stage on Highway 120. (Photo by Mike McMillan - USFS)
 
 
Incident Statistics
Acres Burned: 235,841 (368 square miles)
Structures Threatened: 5,500
Containment: 75%
Estimated Full Containment date: Sept. 20th
Residences Destroyed: 11
Fire Start Date: August 17, 2013
Commercial Property Destroyed: 3
Fire Cause: Under Investigation
Outbuildings Destroyed: 97
Cost to date: $72 million Injuries: 5
Total Personnel: 4,359

Basic Information

Incident Type Wildfire
Cause Under Investigation
Date of Origin Saturday August 17th, 2013 approx. 03:15 PM
Location Groveland Range District, Stanislaus NF
Incident Commander Wilkins/lawshe

Current Situation

Total Personnel 4,359
Size 235,841 acres
Percent Contained 75%
Estimated Containment Date Friday September 20th, 2013 approx. 12:00 AM
Fuels Involved

Brush, Oaks, and Pine

Fire Behavior

Active fire behavior continued into the late evening and moderated overnight as humidities recovered. Moderate rates of spread were observed both in advancing surface fire and backing fire. Heavy fuels still continue to experience complete combustion with high probability of ignition.

Significant Events

Good progress was made with burnout operations on the northwestern and southwestern edges of the fire. Mandatory evacuations continue south of HWY 120 towards Yosemite National Park north of the Old Yosemite Road. There is a closure of Tioga Road west of Yosemite Creek Picnic Area. A Stanislaus National Forest closure order is in effect for locations near and in advance of the fire. The evacuation advisory continues for areas east of Highway 108 from Ponderosa Hills north to Pinecrest. Several locations to the west side of Yosemite National Park have also had closures implemented as a result of the fire's spread. Access and difficult terrain remain concerns for crews and equipment.

Outlook

Planned Actions

Wildland Fire Modules will be assigned north of Cherry and Eleanor Lakes to monitor the fires advancement and contain spread in the rocky terrain where fingers of sparse fuels are present. Direct and indirect line construction with burnout as necessary south of Harden Lake in Yosemite National Park. Continued burnout operations planned in Yosemite National Park along Tioga Road as favorable conditions allow. Patrol and mopup in all areas except the southeastern edge.

Growth Potential

Extreme

Terrain Difficulty

Extreme

Remarks

Very active fire and extensive spotting continue to hamper suppression efforts and pose risks to firefighters. Type 1 helicopters are providing point protection and cooling areas where direct line construction can be achieved safely. Approximately 4,500 structures remain threatened in advance of the fire on both the east and west sides. Fire is expected to continue its eastward spread father into the west side of Yosemite National Park east of Aspen Valley.

Due to inaccessible steep terrain and extreme fire behavior suppression efforts on active portions of the fire are being significantly challenged. Heavy reliance on aviation resources has been critical in an effort to slow the fire's progress to allow suppression resources to establish indirect control lines in areas where accessibility and safety can be achieved. The availability of heavy aircraft is pertinent to the success of suppression efforts.

Continued warmer and drier weather is forecasted for the next several days, which will elevate control concerns and slow burnout progress. Remotely piloted aircraft is providing realtime visual and infrared intelligence on the fire.

Transition to Incident Management Team Type 1 (Wilkins)to Incident Management Team Type 1 (McGowan) will occur on September 4, 2013.

Current Weather

Wind Conditions 5 mph SE
Temperature 65 degrees
Humidity 58%

Follow us for more stories like this

CapRadio provides a trusted source of news because of you.  As a nonprofit organization, donations from people like you sustain the journalism that allows us to discover stories that are important to our audience. If you believe in what we do and support our mission, please donate today.

Donate Today  

    Related Stories

  • USFS-Mike McMillan

    Coverage of the Rim Fire

    Full containment is expected on Oct. 1. The fire has burned 256,895 acres, and is now 84 percent contained. There are 1,321 personnel still working the incident. Updated: 12 a.m., Sunday, Sept. 22

 rimfire

Sign up for ReCap and never miss the top stories

Delivered to your inbox every Friday.

 

Check out a sample ReCap newsletter.

Thanks for subscribing!

Thank you for signing up for the ReCap newsletter! We'll send you an email each Friday with the top stories from CapRadio.

Browse all newsletters

More Stories

Juan Gastelum / National Immigration Law Center

10 years after DACA was announced, Dreamers remain in limbo

June 19, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

Sacramento County wants to ban homeless encampments near more public spaces

June 21, 2022

Andrew Nixon / CapRadio

California tax relief: What’s in the tentative deal

June 24, 2022

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

Governor Newsom signs bill to shield patients threatened by abortion bans in other states

Hundreds gather in Sacramento to protest Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccines saved about 20 million lives in one year, scientists say

We Get Support From:
Become a Supporter

Most Viewed

Abortion is still legal in California. Here are answers to questions about access in the state.

The Supreme Court has overturned Roe v. Wade. Here's what it means for California.

Governor Newsom signs bill to shield patients threatened by abortion bans in other states

Hundreds gather in Sacramento to protest Supreme Court ruling overturning Roe v. Wade

California coronavirus updates: COVID-19 vaccines saved about 20 million lives in one year, scientists say

Back to Top

  • CapRadio

    7055 Folsom Boulevard
    Sacramento, CA 95826-2625

    • (916) 278-8900
    • Toll-free (877) 480-5900
    • Email Us
    • Submit a News Tip
  • Contact Us

  • About Us

    • Contact Us / Feedback
    • Coverage
    • Directions
    • Careers & Internships
    • Mission / Vision / Core Values
    • Press
    • Staff Directory
    • Board of Directors
  • Listening Options

    • Mobile App
    • On Air Schedules
    • Smart Speakers
    • Playlist
    • Podcasts
    • RSS
  • Connect With Us

    •  Facebook
    •  Twitter
    •  Instagram
    •  YouTube
  • Donate

  • Listen

  • Newsletters

CapRadio stations are licensed to California State University, Sacramento. © 2022, Capital Public Radio. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Website Feedback FCC Public Files: KXJZ KKTO KUOP KQNC KXPR KXSR KXJS. For assistance accessing our public files, please call 916-278-8900 or email us.